Signaling system.



H. G. WEBSTER.

SIGNALING-1 SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 5, 190a.

Patented May 11, 1909.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARJRY G. VVEBSTEIL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO lallLO G. ICELLOGG, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SIG'NALmG SYSTEM.

citizen of the'United States, and resident of the cityof Chicago, county of Cook, and

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of whichthe' following is a specification- This invention relates to signaling systems in which the signals originating at.any of :1 plurality of individual circuits are received upon a common register or other signal-receiving device. Its object is to provide impr'oyed means whereby the acciden tal grounding or short circuitingof any individual circuit will operate to isolate such circuit from thereceiving device and thus prevent interference with signals originatin r on 'other'individual cir(;uits.-

in accordance with my invention, I associate with each individual circuit a so-callcd double acting relay. Relays of this type are-characterized by the fact that-their contacts have two operative positions other than normal, and in my invention the contacts of this relay assume one'opcratire poi sition in response to a lesser or normal energization of the relay magnet, andthe otlu'r operative position in response to a greater or abnormal energization of therelay mag- -net-. In its-normal operation, the circuit of the relay is completed through a relatively high resistance, causing the normal cnergization ot the relay. and the consequent actuation of its contacts serves to c'ontrol and oaerate a register or other signalreceiving 'evice. I f, however, the wires of the individual circult become accidentally groun ed or short circuited, an increased current will flow through the relay, causing the abnornm-l encrgization of its magnet. and the consequent actuation of its contacts operates to dissociate the cornnum receiving device from the circuit in trouble and also to cause the display of a signal individual to the circuit. accidental short circuit or ground, the relay contacts assume their normal position.

The invention will be more fully understood from :Llie accompanying drawing, in whichv Figure 1 illustrates my invention asapplied to a combined telephone exchange and alarm system in which the individual-telephone circuits also constitute individual cir Specification 0! Letters Patent. Apylication filed July 5, 1966. Serial No. 32

from a central battery C, normally through Upon the removal of the Iatented, May 1 .1, 1909.

' cuits separate from their telephonic use. In

this figure, the common register or receiving dev ce is included in a normally open 2 I have illustrated onecircuit. In Fig. form of double-acting relay having contacts arranged in accordance with thedial gram of Fig 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrani'indirating the general structure of Fig. l, but differing therefrom in that the receiving device is included in a normally closed circuit. i 2

Referring to Fig. l, the telephone system l thus indicated is that illustrzited and decribed in United States Patent No.

847,588, dated. April 1?, 1900.

In this system, cur rent is furnished to the two limbs of the line the line relay 1% and the return side of the,

l battery.

I ing plug, current. is furnished to the line through the two windings of a repeating coil associated with the cord circuit and the cut-off relay II is operated to disconnect the nornml line relay and return connections.

llhe substation apparatus is indicated as l having a call bell l) and condenser 0 normadly in br dge of the limbs 1' and 2 of the line; and upon the elevation of the switchhook 71, this bridge is interrupted anden alternate one closed, including the receiver 1' and transmitter t. Vhen a circuit is closed the subscriber initiates a call, current will limb 1, receiver 7' and transmitter t and limb The operator answers in the usual way and the insertion of the connecting plug main tains a flow of current in the line limbs and energizes the cut-oil relay 11 to disconnect the normal battery connections of the line i 'und'loreak wheel to engaging spring 8 upolr j its revolution in response to the depression Upon the insertion of a connect-' 2 to the return side of the central battery;

limbs, all as set forth in the above menthrough this last mentioned bridge, as when flow from battery C, through line relay l2,

shown at in. On account of the difi'ere'ntial -tery C, through wire 20, lamp 10,- contacts and release of the handle of lever 03, and a I manually operated circuit-closing key is also connection of thewindings of relay B, the relay is not energized by current flowing through both line limbs in the regular telephonic operationof the system, but when a special signal is to be transmitted,'the oper- I ation of key k or wheel w intermittently closes a circuit which may be traced from l the central source of. current, through the winding 5 of relay B, limb 1 of the line,

the circuit-closing device and resistance a v to ground. This current will be of relatively small value and will energize relay B to an extent sufiieient onl to cause armature 6 to engage contact 8 without moving contact 8 out of engagement with contact 7, and thus operates the register R in the wellknown manner. In the diagram of Fig. 1, A represents a I complete line extending to a substation and i to the signal-transmitting device, while at A and A are indicated similar lines equipped with rela s B and B corresponding to relay B. I through-any cause, limb 1 of eithe1; of the lines becomes accidentally grounded, it is evident that the resistance a being then excluded, a current will flow through winding 5 of relay B, B or B of considerably greater value than that due to the operation of the signaling device F. The greater ener ization of' the relay, due to this increased ow of current, is sufficient to completely actuate armature 6. By this actuation, contact 8 is moved out of engage ment with contact. 7, thus dissociating the register R from the relay; and the subsequent engagement of contact 8 with contact 9 completes a circuit for lamp 10, which may be traced from theupper terminal of bati l i i f i 9, 8 and 6, and wire 21 to the return side of the battery. 'The ensuing current in this circuit causes the illumination of lamp 10, thus indicating to the attendant that the line is introuble and at the same time preventing interference with the other linesof the system. .When the trouble isremoved, the interruption of the current flowing through winding 5 allows therelay contacts to as- Sume their normal positions in readiness for the normal signal.

Fig. 2 illustrates one form of double-acting relay which may advantageously be used in the structure of Fig. 1. It consists of an electromagnet whose core 14 has an angular extension 15 of magnetic material which serves as a support for the armature 1G and for the circuit-changing springs 6, I, 8 and 9, and also to extend the magnetic circuit to the armature. These springs are numbered to correspond with the contacts diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1. The armature is provided with a stop 17,. and

lines A, A,

spring 8 is provided with an adjustable tension-screw 18. Vhen the relay windingis traversed by a relatively weak current. the ensuing partial energization of the core causes the lower end of the armature 16 to be attracted sufficiently to'causespring Gto engage spring 8, but, the lattefbpring being of relatively heavy material and pro-- vided with the tension-screw 18, it serves as a stop to the further motion of the arinature. When, however, the relay Winding is traversed by a relatively great current, the armature is completely attracted, causing the stop 17 to engage the end of the core 14:, and .the spring 8 being engaged by the spring 6 to move out of engagement with spring 7 and engage spring 9, thus giving the two operative positions of the contacts required in the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammatically the three A and their respective relays B, B, B of Fig. 1, but the register R is included in a normally. closed circuit of battery E, which may be traced through armature 6 and contact 19 of relay B to armature 6 and contact 19 of relay B .anld

armature 6 and contact 190i relay B When any of the relays are energized by the weaker pulsations set up in sending a signal,

armature 6 makes and breaks circuit with contact 19, thus operating the register R,, but is notv sufliciently attracted to move con tact 8. If, however, one of the lines become grounded, the complete attraction of armature 6, engages contact 8 and moves it into engagement. with contact 9, thus completing a I new circuit for register R which includes the particular signal .lamp, 10' which is associated with the line .in

trouble. This action causes the illumination of the signal lamp to give the necessary indication and likewise maintains a circuit for register 3 which allows its operation by signals originating on other circuits.

It. will be evident that any form of electrical signal may be substituted for the lamp 10 and that current for the operation of the double-acting relays ma be furnished'in a variety of ways. 7 It is a so evident that the double-acting relay may be constructed otherwise than asindicated in Fig. 2. It is also obvious that my invention is not limited to a combined telephone and alarm system, but may be embodied in various structures in whichsignals, arising on a plurality of circuits, are received upon a common device, and that many alterations and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from its spirit. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise structures indicated, but clai1n,:'

- l. A signaling system comprising a plurality 'of individual circuits, a local trans- 1 mitting apparatus connected to each circuit, a relay in each circuit, a signal recelving cu- Correction in Letters Patent N0. 92l,320.

cuit which is normally controlled by: any of the relays. a source of electricity, switching mechanism lndivulual to each relay oper- 1 atcd whenever the relay is energized by curthe relays, a source of electricity. switching mechanism individual to each relay oper ated whenever the relay is energized by current more than normal in magnitude to cut oil the control-of the receiving" circuit hy the relay. a signal associated with the relay adapted to be displayed when the con-' irol ls so cut oil, and signal receiving ap paratus in the receiving circuit.

3. A signaling system comprising a plurality of individual circuits, a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit, a double-acting relay in each circuit, a signal receiving circuit which is normally 0011- l trolled by any of'the relays, a source of elec l tricity, switching mechanism individual to each relay operated whenever the relay is l energized by current more than normal in magnitude to cut off the control of the re- 1 wiring circuit by the relay, a signal RSSO ciated with the relay adapted to be dis-l played when the control is so cut off, and signal receiving apparatus in the receiving circuit.

-l. A signaling! system (:(unprising a pluof transmitting' circuits. a source of ricit'y, a resistant: a relay in each cira-local transmitting apparatus concult. net-ted to each circuit operatingto include said relay in circuit with said source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit? which is controlled by any of the relays;

when so included, signal recei 'ingr appa l Itais h ereby certified that in Letters l upon the ap Signaling Systems, an error appears i tion, as follows: In line l should be inserted; and that; the said Letters '1.

correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the c with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source. exclusive of said resistance to cut. off the control of the receiving circuit by the relay.- l

5. signaling; system comprising a plurality of transmitting circuits, at source of electricity, a resistance, a relay in each circuit, a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit operating to include said relay in circuit with said source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit which is controlled by any of the relays when so included, signal receiving apparatus included in the signal receiving circuit, and switching mechanism associated with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source exclusive ofsaid resistance to cut off the control of the receiving: circuit by the relay and to restore said control when saidlow resistance circuit, is interrupted.

(i. A signaling system comprising a plurality of transmitting circuits, a source of electricity. a resistance. a relay in each circuit. a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit operating to include said relay in circuit with id source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit- Which is controlled by any of the relays when so included, sigi'ial receiving apparatus included in the signal receiving circuit, switching mechanism associated with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source exclusive of said resistance to cut. oil the conirol oi the receiving circuit by the relay and to restore said control when said low resistance circuit isinterrupted, and an indicator associated with the individual circuit adapted to he displayed when the control is cut oil.

In witness whereof. I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of June 1906.

HARRY (l. \VIIBSTER.

I it nesscs ll. (1. ()Lll i'll lkl),

A. ll. Dvsox.

'&

Patent No. 921,320, granted May 11, 1909,

plica-tion of Harry G. Webster, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in in the printed specification requiring correc- 55,page'1, after the word individual, the Word signaling atcnt should be read with this ase in the Patent Signed and sealed this h dayof June, A. Ls, 1909.

e. o. BILLINGS,

:c-missioner of Balers.

Acting 1 Correction in Letters Patent N0. 92l,320.

cuit which is normally controlled by: any of the relays. a source of electricity, switching mechanism lndivulual to each relay oper- 1 atcd whenever the relay is energized by curthe relays, a source of electricity. switching mechanism individual to each relay oper ated whenever the relay is energized by current more than normal in magnitude to cut oil the control-of the receiving" circuit hy the relay. a signal associated with the relay adapted to be displayed when the con-' irol ls so cut oil, and signal receiving ap paratus in the receiving circuit.

3. A signaling system comprising a plurality of individual circuits, a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit, a double-acting relay in each circuit, a signal receiving circuit which is normally 0011- l trolled by any of'the relays, a source of elec l tricity, switching mechanism individual to each relay operated whenever the relay is l energized by current more than normal in magnitude to cut off the control of the re- 1 wiring circuit by the relay, a signal RSSO ciated with the relay adapted to be dis-l played when the control is so cut off, and signal receiving apparatus in the receiving circuit.

-l. A signaling! system (:(unprising a pluof transmitting' circuits. a source of ricit'y, a resistant: a relay in each cira-local transmitting apparatus concult. net-ted to each circuit operatingto include said relay in circuit with said source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit? which is controlled by any of the relays;

when so included, signal recei 'ingr appa l Itais h ereby certified that in Letters l upon the ap Signaling Systems, an error appears i tion, as follows: In line l should be inserted; and that; the said Letters '1.

correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the c with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source. exclusive of said resistance to cut. off the control of the receiving circuit by the relay.- l

5. signaling; system comprising a plurality of transmitting circuits, at source of electricity, a resistance, a relay in each circuit, a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit operating to include said relay in circuit with said source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit which is controlled by any of the relays when so included, signal receiving apparatus included in the signal receiving circuit, and switching mechanism associated with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source exclusive ofsaid resistance to cut off the control of the receiving: circuit by the relay and to restore said control when saidlow resistance circuit, is interrupted.

(i. A signaling system comprising a plurality of transmitting circuits, a source of electricity. a resistance. a relay in each circuit. a local transmitting apparatus connected to each circuit operating to include said relay in circuit with id source and said resistance, a signal receiving circuit- Which is controlled by any of the relays when so included, sigi'ial receiving apparatus included in the signal receiving circuit, switching mechanism associated with the relay operated when said relay is included in a low resistance circuit with said source exclusive of said resistance to cut. oil the conirol oi the receiving circuit by the relay and to restore said control when said low resistance circuit isinterrupted, and an indicator associated with the individual circuit adapted to he displayed when the control is cut oil.

In witness whereof. I hereunto subscribe my name this th day of June 1906.

HARRY (l. \VIIBSTER.

I it nesscs ll. (1. ()Lll i'll lkl),

A. ll. Dvsox.

'&

Patent No. 921,320, granted May 11, 1909,

plica-tion of Harry G. Webster, of Chicago, Illinois, for an improvement in in the printed specification requiring correc- 55,page'1, after the word individual, the Word signaling atcnt should be read with this ase in the Patent Signed and sealed this h dayof June, A. Ls, 1909.

e. o. BILLINGS,

:c-missioner of Balers.

Acting 1 Correction in Letters Patent No. 921,320.

grmmwi May 11. 1909 It is hereby certified Lhat in Lciturs PaLmt No, HJLHQO. upon the appii mtifiu ofllzury U. \Vchsivr. n! (hwngnx lfinmirr, for rm itnfl'rn'nr lal in Signaling Systvms, an vrmr appvm-s in Um primwi l-lrwjihmllinli 1w; mmg :w-zww tion, as follmw: In line 55, page I, aIm-r llw wunl imiivi !u11," :iw wmi MUM-Hy should be inserted; and Hm. the sail! LCHUI'F Putz-m should Iw man! in; mm

correction therein that the same may conform to 1111-: rwm-d'oi 11w raw in rim luicnl Office.

Signed and sealmi Hi 31? day of Junv, 7 I 1909.

[SEAL] 1 ill ISILMNUS.

Acti r j 4 wUHiFSI (JHPT of "u2,:-'F. 

